agriculture
World Water Day: Kwara cautions residents against encroachment
The Kwara State Government has cautioned residents of the state against encroaching or blocking the waterways in order to avoid the risks of flooding and its devastating consequences.
The State Commissioner for Water Resources, Hon. Usman Yunusa Lade stated this at this year’s World Water Day, organized by the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN) and Organization of Private Sector (OPSWash).
The event, which was held at the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority (LNRBDA) , Ilorin, has as its theme, ‘Water for peace’.
The Commissioner said that illegal structures close to the waterways pose serious risks to human lives as most of it will sooner or later obstruct water movement.
Also speaking, the Special Assistant on Community Engagement to the Governor, Dr. Lawal Olohungbebe said the State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has come up with a new development strategy recently in the training and empowerment of youths on how to repair boreholes without waiting for the state government’s intervention.
Olohungbebe advised various communities in the state to consider some factors before drilling borehole in their area in order to avoid unnecessary risks to live and water pollution.
Sharing his view at the occasion, the Managing Director, Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority, Dr. Adeniyi Aremu disclosed that his agency under the Federal Ministry of Water Resources has its primary function of sustainability development of surface and underground water.
Aremu advised all stakeholders to come together to improve clean and potable water supply across the state.
Earlier, the President of the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN), Engr. (Dr.) Adebisi Osim, represented by Engr. Nihinlola Olawuyi said that water plays a critical role in fostering harmony, stability, and prosperity in our communities and beyond.
Osim stated that according to the United Nations , poor water , sanitation, and hygiene caused 1.4 million deaths annually and also shortened the lives of 74 million people, adding that Nigeria faces a severe water and sanitation crisis that affects millions of people in urban and rural areas.
Engr. Osim encouraged all stakeholders, private sectors, and government functionaries to adopt best practices and invest in technologies that reduce water consumption and promote conservation.
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